Animal trap



G. A. SAMOUCE July ANIMAL TRAP Filed Aug. 10. 1926 A George i/exander Samouc q ATTORNEYJI Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ALEXANDER SAMOUCE, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ANIMAL TRAP.

Application filed August 10, 1926. Serial No. 128,471;

. holding the jaws of the trap set in such a manner that when the jaws are released the movement of the holding means incident to such release will not interfere or be liable to interfere with the movement of the jaws or be liable to throw the animal clear of the trap. This novel form of holding means is adapted to and preferably does coact with a tripping plate of wide area located between the jaws of the trap thereby insuring that the animal is in the desired relation to the jaws before the trap is sprung and yet the holding mechanism for the jaws is located entirely outside of the path of movement of the jaws. The desired co-action between the jaws and the holding means is obtained by providing lateral projections on the jaws.

Another object is to'provide a highly organized form of trap wherein a single element, preferably in the form of a U-shaped rod serves to mount and operatively relate all of the major elements of the trap except one.

Another object resides in the provision of means for limiting the movement of the jaws when the trap is sprung.

A further object resides in the provision of a novel form of jaw construction where by the jaws have enhanced gripping and killing power.

A still further object resides in the provision of asimple form of trap which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and which is capable of killing the animals entrapped.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction,

'arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a trap constructed in accordance with thepresent invention and showing the jaws of the trap set;

Figure 2 is a view in transverse vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation illustrating the trap as positoned in Figure 1;

lligure a is a similar view showing the trap sprung;

Figure 5 is a view in transverse vertical secton on line 5-5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 illustrates the blank from which the base is constructed in the embodiment of the invention illustrated.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates a base plate having an end portion 2 bent upwardly therefron'i. Opposite the end portion 2 lugs 3 are struck from the material of the plate and are also extended upwardly. In the lugs 3 and in the end portion alined openings 2 and 3'- are provided and in these alined openings a U-shaped mounting member 4 is fitted and suitably secured. Preferably the Ushaped mounting member consists of a rod of metal of suliicient resiliency to enable it to be bent to its proper form. This U-shaped rod has a body portion 5 extending between the lugs 3 and. a pair oflegs 6 extending from the lugs 3 to the upstanding end portion 2 and located in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other. The ends of the rod may be peened over against the portion 2 to secure the rod in position after the parts have been assembled therewith. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the legs 6 of the rod t have intermediate portions 6 offset downwardly and engaging the body of the base plate.

A pair of jaws designated at 7 are provided. Each jaw 7 is of substantially U- shaped form and has a curved body portion 8 and a pair of spaced legs 9 extending from the body portion and formed in their ends remote from the body portion with bearing openings 10 in which one of the legs 6 of the U-shaped mounting rod 4. is a working fit. lVith this arrangement the jaws are mounted for rotary movement on the legs 6 of the mounting rod 4. Springs 10 are associated with the jaws to urge them toward and into engagement with each other. Preferably a pair of springs 10 is provided for each jaw, the members of each pair of springs being mounted in spaced relation to each other on the leg 6 of the mounting member 4 on which the jaw With which they are associated is mounted; Flat/l1"sfiofling has coil 11" encircling the leg G'With which it through an aperture injthebaseplat 1 and. bent to be held engaged in such aperture and a terminal 13 having a laterally Offset 'ndlz engaged With the adjacent leg ofthe associated jaw.

Forthe purpose of holding the jaws7 set,

that is, spread apart and in the substantially 7 horizontal position shown in Figures 1 and- 8, hol'din'g means is i roVided and includes an elongated holdingp ate l5 plvotally mountedfon jupstanding pivot' lugs 16 integrally V formedat ith the base plate 1 at one end thereof. The holding plate is engageable with lateral projections 17 formed on the j aWs'T, the projections 17 preferably being constituted outwardly displaced \l-shape'd portions of the adjacent legs of the jaws.

As clearly shown in the drawings, the p1v- .otal mounting of the holding plate on the V basefa'l'ate is laterally sp'aced fronr the jaws and 't m holding plate, although engageable with thepTojeCtiOhs 17, lies Whollyand en-' tirel y out of the :path or movement of the Jaws 7, Moreover, the edge of the plate that is pivoted'on the base is remote'fronrthe jaws. so that in swinging out of engagement with the projections 17 "th e holding plate 15 strings awaysmite jaws. I

" Tripping mechanism isprovided' fo'rthe holdin'gineans and comprises a trip plate 20 "of'relatively' broad area, the "trip plate 20 yerlyi'ng "the base platebetween the legs of I the jaws, 'Aslwill' be understood from Figuresf1and'2, the trip plate 20 has ajlateral e xtension 21 to "the underside of \vhic'hja plivotfbearingi22 is sec-ured the ivot be ring22 having an opening in. w'hic'zh'the body I portion '5 "of the mounting rod' l is rotatably fitted; "One end ofthe lateral extension 21 "projects beyondthe attaching portion of the pivot bearing 22 and constitutes a lip engageable "with the holding plate to maintain the same engaged with the jaws when the jaws are spread apart and the trap is set.

When an animal steps upon thetrip plate 20 the tri [plate is's'wung downwardlyflhe doWnivart ly"offsetportion6 ofthe "lcg6 of the mounting rodafi'ording the clearance necessary to permit operative movement of -thetrip plate, and the downward movement offithetrip pl ate d'isengages its lip safrqm the holding plate l5', thereby permitting the v springs 10 to bringthe jaws togetherwith a sharp quickand forcible movement. The animal ma thus be not only entrapped but also killed as the jaws strike the'anim'al a forcible crushing blow. important/tea; ture ofthe-inv'e'ntionresides inthe organiza- I 'tion of the holding means With the jaws.

In this" respect itis to be noted thatyvhen' the holding Plate 15 g g d from the "that contri'buteslar'gely to these advantages "is the *ueshap'e d mounting rod which affords lip 23 and, swings outwardly it will not flflOlW the animal clear offline p p since it is located entirely butside-of theam and is spaced from the trip' plate Whereon tl1e ani-* 7 anal has stepped Againfby locating this holding plate entirely outside of the path of movement of the jaws it cannot and does not I interfere and is not even liable to interfere with "the movement-of the jaws, renders the trap safe for persons setting the same.

As will now be apparent from theforeoinfg description the "trap is constructed heme co parativa few number of parts and bolts, rivets and similar fastening de- One of the "features a pivotbearing for the jaws, "a mounting for the springs and. a support for the trip: plate;

Thus all of-the important elements of the trap except the holding 'plat-e'are 'mounted on thissing-le mounting member 4.

i The endoithe 1e 'Q'o'feach jaw pivotally stantially triangular enlargement 25 enja'ws from moving through an arc of over ninety degrees; In other words, the enlargegag'e'able with the base plate'to prevent the -ments '25 constitutesstopsfwhich limit the movements ot' th'ejaws to a vertical .position or rather to "the substantially Vertical ti'on shown in Figurel. This an impel feature as coil spring actuated: jaws 'do not close at the same speedfthatis tosay,

'one fa-W may close faster than the Other. 1

I It to be'noted that ?the jaw member-s7 are relativelylong"and narrow so that-When sprung they 'Will tend to girip as animal abouftthe body rath'er th'an thefOCit brleg, as,

i is the usualpractice and. to this end the corn fronting edges of the jawshaye the Wave- *-like or sinuoiis iormationdesignated at 7? in Figure 4 to better enhance the grippignand killing action ofthe. *jaws with respect-ate the animals, itbeing noted 'zparticula rl-y that said IWELVG like or sinuous 'fonma-tion' extends *throughofit th'e "spaced "leg portions f the jaws," fwh-ich portions directly en g th animflsbod The upstand ng portion 2I0 f thef baseplate i's pro'vided' with a swivelled 'ey'e 26 'w'vhereby the trap-may be connected by means of the "teen chainf27 "to the usual stake" (not. shown).

In conclusion it is to be understood-that While I have here chose-n tdshow' and describe a prefe'rredjembocliment of imy invention, such illustrationfanddescription is for the purpose of example onlysan d not to be construed as fjdefining the limits of'tlie inventi'on Which are to be' a'scerttined from the soopeof the'appended claims. s v

What is claimed is:

"1. A- trap comprising a base plate; co-

op'erable'jaws in'ountedi on said baser plaie,

said aws having lateral projections, a holding plate pivotally mounted on the base plate to one side of the jaws, said holding plate having a portion engageable with the lateral projections to hold the jaws set, and a trip plate pivotally mounted on the base plate and located between the jaws, said 1 trip plate having a lip engageable with the holding plate when the jaws are set.

2. A trap comprising cooperable jaws, said jaws having projections extending outside of the path of movement of the jaws, means located outside of the path of movement of the jaws and engageable with the projections to hold the jaws set, and tripping mechanism for said means.

A trap comprising a base plate, a pair of cooperable jaws pivotally mounted on the base plate and having spaced lateral projections at one side thereof, an elongated holding plate having a pivotal mounting on the base plate laterally spaced from the aws but swingable toward the jaws to engage the lateral projections and hold the jaws set, the holding plate being swingable away from the jaws when releasing the same and operating entirely outside of the path of movement of the jaws and a trip plate pivotally mounted on the base plate between the jaws and having a lip engageable with the holding plate.

l. A trap comprising a base plate, a pair of U-shaped jaws having engageable body portions and also having legs pivotally mounted on the base plate, the ends of the legs adjacent the base plate having substantially triangular enlargements engageable with base plate to limit the movement to such position as will permit engagement of the body portion of the jaws, spring means for urging the jaws toward each other, means for holding the jaws set, and tripping mechanism for said last mentioned means.

5. A trap comprising a base plate having upstanding portions provided with alined openings, a U-shaped mounting rod having legs fitted in said alined openings and also having a body portion connecting the legs, cooperable jaws having bearing portions rotatably fitted on the. legs, springs having coils encircling the legs of the rod and also having terminals engaged with the base plate and with the jaws, means cooperable with the jaws for holding the same set, and a trip plate for said means pivoted on the body portion of the rod.

(5. A trap comprising a base, cooperable jaws, springs for urging the jaws toward each other, holding means for maintaining the jaws set, a trip plate cooperable with said holding means, and a single mounting member for the aws, springs, and trip plate, said mounting member being supported on the base.

7 An animal trap comprising a base provided with spaced jaw pivots, cooperative U-shaped jaw members invertedly mounted in said spaced pivots, and operating mechanism to forcibly move the jaws together to bring the yoke portions thereof into contact, the leg portions thereof remaining in spaced relation, said leg portions being serrated on their front edges whereby to em hance the gripping action thereof.

8. A trap comprising a base plate, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on the base plate and'having stop shoulders engageable with the base plate to limit the swinging movement of the jaws to such position as will permit the jaws to come into cooperative relation, spring means for urging the jaws into cooperative relation, means for holding the jaws set, and tripping mechanism for said last mentioned means.

9. A trap comprising a base plate having upstanding portions, said portions being provided with alined openings, a U-shaped mounting rod having legs fitted in said alined openings and also having a body portion connecting the legs, a pair of cooperable jaws of substantially Ushaped form and having legs provided with bearing openings receiving the legs of the mounting rod and also having cooperable body portions, springs having coils embracing the legs of the mounting rod and also having terminals engaged with the legs of the jaws and with the base plate, pivot lugs upstanding from the base plate at one side of the jaws, an elongated holding plate having one edge portion pivotally mounted on said lugs, the adjacent legs of the jaws having lateral projections of V-shaped form with which the holding plate is engageable, and a trip plate pivoted to the body portion of the mounting rod, positioned between the jaws, and having a lip engageable with the holding plate.

10. An animal trap comprising a base provided with spaced jaw pivots, U-shaped jaw members invertedly mounted in said spaced pivots, said jaw members being relatively long and narrow whereby the leg portions of the jaw members will grip the body of an animal springing the trap, said leg portions of the jaws being serrated on their front edges to enhance their body gripping power.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature.

GEORGE ALEXANDER SAMOUCE. 

